Replicated from the GGA EZBoard:

lmoseley
BigDoggie
(8/16/01 9:41:17 pm)
Cache difficulty ratings

Based on my reading in the Groundspeak forums, one of the thorniest issues in Geocaching is determining the Difficulty and Terrain "Stars" to assign to a cache.

One Geocacher distilled down about five pages of discussions and came up with his "On-Line Geocache Rating System".

You just go to this website:

ClayJar's Geocache Rating System Link

answer a few questions, and the site suggests how to rate the cache.

This is pretty cool. Check it out if you plan to place a cache.

By the way, kudos to Allen Lacy for bringing this to our attention.

Edited by: lmoseley at: 8/17/01 11:26:46 pm

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Avatar
Registered Geocacher
(9/25/01 10:20:17 am)
Re: Cache difficulty ratings

I'm preparing to place a multi-part cache that, in my mind, will be quite difficult. I intend to post it for a week or so on this site before posting it on geocaching.com and get yall's feedback on the difficulty setting.(The reason for the attempt at difficulty is that there's roughly $100 worth of loot inside...)

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ErnieB
Registered Geocacher
(9/25/01 3:02:28 pm)
Re: Cache difficulty ratings

Hey, like the movie title goes - "Bring It On!"

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erik88l r
Administrator
(9/25/01 7:41:48 pm)
Re: Cache difficulty ratings

Avatar - remember it's not what's in the cache that makes it memorable, it's the hunt. Keep some of that loot for other caches. Spread it around!
~erik~

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Avatar
Registered Geocacher
(9/26/01 7:01:12 am)
Re: Cache difficulty ratings

The cache will definately be memorable for it's hunt as much or more than it's contents. ( I simply want to reward those who make it all the way through. Besides, the cache contents may be worth a lot to someone but it's stuff I don't need anymore.) Unfortunately I may not have the oportunity to hide it few a few weeks yet. My schedule is so tight that I can only devote 1 Saturday every 5-6 weeks to geocaching.

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Da Rebel
Registered Geocacher
(3/4/02 12:13:34 am)
Re: Cache difficulty ratings

This is one issue that's kinda bugged me. I've spent hours locating a cache, and in some instances just minutes. Each only scored one point. Kinda loses a little something from my perspective. It's not that scoring points is my objective, but it does seem a bit dispraportionate.

I've been looking at the Navicache site and recently got an email from them, a portion of which is clipped below. Perhaps something to think about.

"SCORING SYSTEM: which awards points for caches found and or placed based on the Difficulty and terrain rating. So if you place or find one with a higher rating you of course get more points. We will be having a competitive Caching series with prizes such as GPSR's awarded each Quarter of the year, after the Quarter the points will be re-set for the next match but you will keep your "YTD" (Year to date) points. We are the first Geocaching site to offer this feature."

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before." - Mae West

Edited by: Da Rebel at: 3/4/02 12:27:30 am

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lmoseley
BigDog
(3/4/02 12:35:03 am)
ezSupporter

Re: Cache difficulty ratings

We must remember that geocaching is not intended to be a competative hobby... and cannot be seriously viewed as one while it is operated on an honor system basis.

Don't worry about your score or your count... have fun. Make a kid happy. Borrow one if you have to.